The Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai. (Credit: NNA)
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai said in his Sunday homily at Bkirki his desire for the political and security momentum that the country is experiencing to allow the creation of a state that "resembles Lebanese society," considering that "pluralism" is not in itself an obstacle. Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Elias Audi hoped for the rehabilitation of the state that "unites its people under the banner of justice and equality."
"Let us pray for our country's leaders so that they make the state similar to Lebanese society while purifying it from its impurities, so it becomes a society of the civilization of love and truth," Rai said.
The religious leader also cited words from Pope John Paul II, spoken in 1995 during the Special Synod on Lebanon held in Rome: "What saved Lebanon from destruction is its society, characterized by the coexistence between Christians and Muslims."
"In 1975 (the year the civil war began and ended in 1990), the state fell but society remained, so we survived and triumphed together and rebuilt the state," added Rai. "What distinguishes Lebanon from surrounding countries is that it is a state revolving around society while surrounding states revolve around their regimes," he continued, adding that "pluralism has never been an obstacle to Lebanese society's unity."
Audi hoped that the government formed by Nawaf Salam would keep its promises of reforms and offer Lebanese who have left the country good reasons to return.
"Just as the prodigal son returned to his father's embrace after moving away from home, we hope all Lebanese will return to their homeland after hope has returned with the election of a president of the Republic and the formation of a government to which we wish success," he stated. "It is time to work and the challenges are great because the aspirations of the Lebanese are vast," he emphasized, calling for the rehabilitation of "a state of law that unites its people under the banner of justice and equality," ending the privileges of crime or incivility.
In crisis since late 2019, Lebanon emerged at the end of November from more than 15 months of clashes between Hezbollah and Israel thanks to a ceasefire agreement whose terms are still being implemented. During this period, the Parliament elected a president, ending more than two years of void. It also formed a government that replaced the one in place since September 2021, which had been in a caretaker status since May 2022, amid political tensions.
With two days remaining for the Israelis to withdraw from southern Lebanon per the truce agreement, whose implementation period was extended until Feb. 18, the country has experienced tensions since mid-week due to Beirut's decision to ban Iranian civilian planes from landing in Lebanon until at least Feb. 18, after receiving Israeli threats transmitted by the United States. This situation prompted Hezbollah to mobilize its members in highly tense demonstrations contained by the Lebanese army, but which caused injuries among the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) ranks, whose convoys were targeted and attacked.